Looking for Floor Jack and Jack Stand Recommendations
 

I'm sure recommendations are buried in various threads....but I also know people like to share their preferences. So....

I'm looking to buy my first floor jack and jack stands. Don't want to break the bank....but I'm willing to pay a bit more for something well made that will really last.

What should I get?

Harbor Freight
 

That's where I'd get 'em from.

(If my next door neighbor doesn't soon return my floor jack and 4 jackstands, that's where I'll have to buy too!:rolleyes:)

We have Craftsman stands. They do the job just fine, but I would look for ones that don't have a "lip" at either end of the part that the car actually sits on... they can get a little bit in the way on frame rails that are wider than they are (e.g., my W123). As far as floor jacks, I don't know much... I got our neighbor's floor jack when they moved to California, and it seems decent... I'll check the brand and report back to you. I don't really know much about the floor jacks, though, since I got this one for free and didn't have to shop for it.

I would say to skimp on the floor jack rather than the stands because the floor jack doesn't have to hold your car up in the air while you are under it. Also, pass on the creeper and go with a long piece of cardboard (if you want it, a camping mattress for comfort). Cardboard is both cheaper and keeps you further away from the car if it does fall... something that you NEVER want. Also, I tend to prop the jack up under another structural portion of the car so that if the stands somehow fail, the jack should hold the car long enough to scram.

I have one of these:
Craftsman 4 Ton Floor Jack: Get Great Deals On Tools You Need at Sears

and two sets of these:
Craftsman Professional 4 -Ton Jack Stands, One Pair - Tools - Mechanics & Auto Tools - Lift Equipment & Jacks

I also have scraps of 2x4s and 4x4s to use in different situations.

Jack stands are pretty much jack stands in my experience, but floor jacks can be a pain. Some of those Harbor freight jacks last forever, and others are just lousy right out of the box.

A few years ago, I was at a tire shop and noticed that every floor jack there was an Arcan low-profile XL 3.5 ton exactly like the ones Costco has sold for a while for around $99. The employees were dragging them all over outside, and generally beating the crap out of them, but they reported no problems with them. I went out and purchased one for myself after that. I could not be happier with it.

The only downside I see to this jack is that once it's on the floor, it stays there. The thing must weigh between 80 and 100 pounds, so you certainly don't want to try to keep it in your trunk.

Thanks, guys. Any thoughts on differences between pin design and ratchet design on stands. I'm sure ratchet is safe....but somehow pin seems safer.

pin is safer, but boy is it inconvenient. My biggest complaint about it is that you end up struggling getting the correct pin lined up often partially under the vehicle, or dragging it out endlessly to re set, whereas a ratchet you just put up.

Ultimately, my opinion is that pin style is probably safer if the car is sitting on stands for a long time and you will be doing things to it that are violent, but less safe in setting up because its a bit harder to set up fast.

Ratchet seems perfectly safe to me also though, never had a ratchet stand come down or break, and ive done some violent stuff with a car on ratchet stands.

also x 2 or 3 on the harbor freight floor jack, ive abused mine pretty bad, and its still working well.

The ratchet ones are all likely larger and very heavy duty/reliable in how their locking=in mechanism works. That's the type of jack stands I saw being used at Madison Cadillac on Union Avenue in Memphis, Tenn. in the early '70s when an old time mechanic was working on my '71 Cadillac 'ghetto-cruiser' I drove as a young man.

I have jackstands from 30+ years ago from Sears that are pin-style. Then, I have two newer ones also pin-style from I believe Chief Auto Parts here in Dallas, TX. now out of business. All, are each 2-ton stands, if I recall correctly.

I'll post pics - if I can get them back from Alex, my car dealer neighbor........;)

I would think the ratchet ones easier to use, and likely heavier duty, but that's a guess on my part.....

Always put a piece of scrap plywood between the jack stand and the car for a non slip interface.

there are some that have the ratchet mechanism, along with the pin for extra safety if the ratchet fails

Well made and will last?

AC Hydraulic DK13HLQ, AC Hydrhaulic DK20Q, AC Hydraulic DK20 - ACJacks.com

I have the DK 20Q. Bought it in a group buy from another list many moons ago. One of the best purchases I ever made. Highly recommended.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 400K

I have a set of the four of the 6 ton Harbor Freight stands from when I had a truck and they still work great. I have a michelin floor jack that my brother bought me for a birthday present years ago from either Costco or Sams Club which has also held up very well. Both of these are major overkill for a W123 since they are designed for use on trucks but they do the job.

I should also mention that they are the ratchet type but they are so tall that they need to be on the lowest setting so they can't accidentally get lowered while the car is on them.

Ill second the Arcan xl 35 i love mine! It was only ten pounds heavier than the comparable aluminum "racejack" and has an extra ton of capacity plus twin lift cylinders. I had a Torin big red 2.5 for many years and it was great (we have a few big trucks). Nice and wide but about 100lbs. Front seal blew out and it puked all its oil.

I went to the store to buy another big red and a few things changed my mind

1: it s lighter

2: the sales rep said he sees about 1 in 200 Torins returned for maintenance whereas with Arcan that number is more like 1 in 800 and

3: I had my truck inspected on the way to northern and every jack in the inspection shop was a very abused looking Arcan to which the inspection guy gave good comments

As far as stands Ill use anything that feels solid I currently have a set of four ton levers I got used from a friend.

I use a Rousch Racing jack, and Harbor Freight jack stands.